Common Ingredients in meatballs Recipes

We researched the most common ingredients in over a hundred popular meatballs recipes and found the top 15 ingredients.

The most common ingredients in meatballs dishes are garlic and eggs.

Olive oil, onion, parsley, bread, parmesan and beef are also common ingredients in meatballs recipes. Variations include:

• green onions in place of parsley
• breadcrumbs in place of bread

Salt is in 85% of meatballs recipes and pepper, 75%.

The average meatballs recipe has about 14.8 ingredients, with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 38.

In terms of directions, meatballs recipes have about 5 steps on average, ranging from 1 to 15 instructions.

An average meatballs recipe takes about 1 hour 14 minutes to prepare, ranging from 15 minutes to 12 hours 45 minutes.

Ratios of Common Ingredients in Meatballs

For 1 large eggs (50 g), the median and average amounts of other significant ingredients are below. Some ingredients are potential substitutes for others, meaning they almost never exist together in a single meatballs recipe, and are marked below.

Ingredient	Median	Average	% of recipes with eggs	Potential subsitutions
garlic	2 clove (6 g)	3.1 clove (9 g)	70%
olive oil	1.8 tablespoon (24 g)	2.9 tablespoon (39 g)	57%	vegetable oil
parsley	0.15 cup (9 g)	0.2 cup (12 g)	53%	green onions
onion	0.42 cup (67 g)	half a cup (79 g)	49%	green onions
bread	0.39 cup (42 g)	0.48 cup (51 g)	38%	breadcrumbs
beef	0.89 pound (405 g)	three quarters of a pound (339 g)	36%
parmesan	a quarter cup (22 g)	0.35 cup (31 g)	32%
pork	half a pound (227 g)	0.58 pound (262 g)	27%

Ingredients by Average Weight in Meatballs

We also found the average content of the significant ingredients by weight in meatballs recipes. This would be: 29% beef, 23% pork, 11% spaghetti, 11% eggs, 8% onion, 6% bread, 5% olive oil, 2% garlic, 2% parsley and 2% parmesan.

Here are the top ingredients, listed in order of popularity.

salt

Salt is the most popular ingredient in meatballs dishes. In fact, over 85% of meatballs recipes contain salt.

Salt is often included in meatballs dishes in amounts of 1 teaspoon, 2 teaspoons or 1.5 teaspoons.

In meatballs recipes that contain salt, it is on average, 0.3% by weight.

For meatballs recipes, salt is frequently used with garlic, eggs, black pepper, olive oil and parsley.

Potential substitutions for salt in meatballs:

• ginger

Also, salt is not often used with soy sauce.

pepper

Another popular ingredient in meatballs is pepper. From the recipes we've sampled for meatballs, over 75% have pepper.

Variations of pepper include:

• black pepper: 59% of recipes

In recipes for meatballs, pepper is often used with salt, garlic, olive oil, eggs and onion.

Potential substitutions for pepper in meatballs:

• black pepper
• ginger

Also, pepper is not often used with vegetable oil, green onions, breadcrumbs and soy sauce.

black pepper

Black pepper is another common ingredient in meatballs dishes. In fact, over 55% of meatballs recipes contain black pepper.

Meatballs dishes often call for black pepper to be ground.

Black pepper is often included in meatballs dishes in amounts of half a teaspoon, a quarter teaspoon or 1 teaspoon.

In meatballs recipes that contain black pepper, it is on average, 0.1% by weight.

In recipes for meatballs, black pepper is often used with salt, garlic, eggs, olive oil and parsley.

Potential substitutions for black pepper in meatballs:

• cumin
• ginger
• coriander

Also, black pepper is not often used with breadcrumbs, flour, butter and white sugar.

garlic

Garlic is another common ingredient in meatballs dishes. In fact, over 65% of meatballs recipes contain garlic.

Grated, minced, crushed, sliced, chopped and peeled are frequent preparations for garlic in meatballs dishes.

Common quantities for garlic in meatballs dishes include 2 cloves, 1 clove or 3 cloves.

In meatballs recipes that contain garlic, it is on average, 1% by weight.

Salt, eggs, olive oil, black pepper and parsley are commonly used together with garlic in meatballs dishes. Conversely, garlic is not often used with flour, chicken stock and white sugar.

eggs

Another popular ingredient in meatballs is eggs. From the recipes we've sampled for meatballs, over 65% have eggs.

Eggs is often included in meatballs dishes in amounts of 1 large, 1 eggs or 2 larges.

In meatballs recipes that contain eggs, it is on average, 5% by weight.

For meatballs recipes, eggs is frequently used with salt, garlic, black pepper, olive oil and parsley. However, white sugar and coriander are almost never used together with eggs in meatballs dishes.

olive oil

Another popular ingredient in meatballs is olive oil. From the recipes we've sampled for meatballs, over 55% have olive oil.

Common quantities for olive oil in meatballs dishes include 2 tablespoons, 3 tablespoons or a quarter cup.

In meatballs recipes that contain olive oil, it is on average, 3% by weight.

Salt, garlic, eggs, black pepper and parsley are commonly used together with olive oil in meatballs dishes.

Potential substitutions for olive oil in meatballs:

• vegetable oil

Also, olive oil is not often used with green onions, breadcrumbs, butter, ginger, soy sauce, white sugar and coriander.

onion

Onion is another common ingredient in meatballs dishes. In fact, over 55% of meatballs recipes contain onion.

Variations of onion include:

• green onions: 13% of recipes

For meatballs recipes, onion is frequently used with salt, eggs, garlic, olive oil and black pepper.

Potential substitutions for onion in meatballs:

• green onions

Also, onion is not often used with panko, ginger, soy sauce and chicken.

parsley

Another popular ingredient in meatballs is parsley. From the recipes we've sampled for meatballs, over 45% have parsley.

Meatballs dishes often call for parsley to be packed, chopped, dried and minced.

Parsley is often included in meatballs dishes in amounts of a quarter cup, 2 tablespoons or half a cup.

In meatballs recipes that contain parsley, it is on average, 1.1% by weight.

In recipes for meatballs, parsley is often used with salt, eggs, garlic, olive oil and black pepper.

Potential substitutions for parsley in meatballs:

• green onions

Also, parsley is not often used with vegetable oil, cumin, panko, ginger, soy sauce, white sugar, chicken and coriander.

bread

Bread is another common ingredient in meatballs dishes. In fact, over 30% of meatballs recipes contain bread.

Removed, seasoned and grated are frequent preparations for bread in meatballs dishes.

Common quantities for bread in meatballs dishes include half a cup, 1 cup or a quarter cup.

In meatballs recipes that contain bread, it is on average, 6% by weight.

Salt, eggs, onion, olive oil and garlic are commonly used together with bread in meatballs dishes.

Potential substitutions for bread in meatballs:

• breadcrumbs

Also, bread is not often used with cumin, panko, green onions, ginger, soy sauce, chicken and coriander.

parmesan

Another popular ingredient in meatballs is parmesan. From the recipes we've sampled for meatballs, over 25% have parmesan.

Grated and shredded are frequent preparations for parmesan in meatballs dishes.

Parmesan is often included in meatballs dishes in amounts of half a cup, a quarter cup or 2 tablespoons.

In meatballs recipes that contain parmesan, it is on average, 2% by weight.

For meatballs recipes, parmesan is frequently used with salt, garlic, black pepper, eggs and olive oil. However, vegetable oil, cumin, green onions, chicken stock, ginger, soy sauce, white sugar, chicken and coriander are almost never used together with parmesan in meatballs dishes.

beef

Beef is another common ingredient in meatballs dishes. In fact, over 25% of meatballs recipes contain beef.

Meatballs dishes often call for beef to be ground.

Beef is often included in meatballs dishes in amounts of 1 pound, 2 pounds or 1.5 pounds.

In meatballs recipes that contain beef, it is on average, 35% by weight.

In recipes for meatballs, beef is often used with salt, eggs, garlic, black pepper and onion. On the other hand, beef is almost never used with vegetable oil, cumin, green onions, butter, chicken stock, soy sauce, chicken, white sugar and coriander.

pork

Another popular ingredient in meatballs is pork. From the recipes we've sampled for meatballs, over 25% have pork.

Ground is a frequent preparation for pork in meatballs dishes.

Common quantities for pork in meatballs dishes include 1 pound, half a pound or 1.5 pounds.

In meatballs recipes that contain pork, it is on average, 28% by weight.

Salt, garlic, eggs, black pepper and onion are commonly used together with pork in meatballs dishes. Conversely, pork is not often used with cumin, panko, green onions, breadcrumbs, butter, ginger, soy sauce, chicken and coriander.

vegetable oil

Vegetable oil is another common ingredient in meatballs dishes. In fact, over 15% of meatballs recipes contain vegetable oil.

Vegetable oil is often included in meatballs dishes in amounts of 1 tablespoon, 2 tablespoons or 3 tablespoons.

In meatballs recipes that contain vegetable oil, it is on average, 1.1% by weight.

For meatballs recipes, vegetable oil is frequently used with salt, eggs, garlic, black pepper and onion.

Potential substitutions for vegetable oil in meatballs:

• olive oil

Also, vegetable oil is not often used with parsley, parmesan, beef, spaghetti, oregano, butter and basil.

oregano

Another popular ingredient in meatballs is oregano. From the recipes we've sampled for meatballs, over 15% have oregano.

Meatballs dishes often call for oregano to be dried and chopped.

Oregano is often included in meatballs dishes in amounts of 1 teaspoon, half a teaspoon or 2 teaspoons.

In meatballs recipes that contain oregano, it is on average, 0.1% by weight.

In recipes for meatballs, oregano is often used with salt, garlic, olive oil, black pepper and eggs.

Potential substitutions for oregano in meatballs:

• cumin
• ginger
• coriander

Also, oregano is not often used with vegetable oil, milk, panko, green onions, flour, chicken stock, butter, soy sauce, chicken and white sugar.

spaghetti

Spaghetti is another common ingredient in meatballs dishes. In fact, over 15% of meatballs recipes contain spaghetti.

Cooked and dried are frequent preparations for spaghetti in meatballs dishes.

Common quantities for spaghetti in meatballs dishes include 1 pound, 8 ounces or 12 ounces.

In meatballs recipes that contain spaghetti, it is on average, 23% by weight.

Salt, olive oil, garlic, eggs and parsley are commonly used together with spaghetti in meatballs dishes. Conversely, spaghetti is not often used with vegetable oil, cumin, panko, green onions, breadcrumbs, ginger, soy sauce, white sugar, chicken and coriander.

Other meatballs Ingredients

Other significant ingredients used in meatballs recipes include:

• cumin - 15%
• tomatoes - 15%
• milk - 15%
• panko - 10%
• breadcrumbs - 10%
• flour - 10%
• chicken stock - 10%
• butter - 10%
• basil - 10%
• ginger - 10%
• soy sauce - 10%
• chicken - 10%
• white sugar - 10%
• coriander - 5%

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